TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 Manual Grinder - Review 🏆

The Timemore Chestnut C3 is a manual coffee grinder that offers high-quality grinding performance in a sleek and compact design. Timemore is a respected brand among coffee enthusiasts known for their precisely engineered grinders. The Chestnut C3 is their mid-range model, offering stepless grind adjustment in a durable stainless steel body.

This grinder aims to give coffee lovers the ability to freshly grind beans for various brew methods with precision and consistency. The Chestnut C3 features 30 grind settings, from fine espresso to coarse French press, controlled by a rotating numbered dial on the bottom. It has a simple and intuitive design focused on ease of use and portability.

Overall, the Timemore Chestnut C3 is a versatile manual coffee grinder that promises consistent grinds for better extraction and flavor. This review will take an in-depth look at the features and real-world performance of this popular mid-range grinder. Key factors examined include grind quality, grind settings, build quality, ease of use, noise, capacity and value for money.

Design and Build Quality

The Timemore Chestnut C3 is a high-quality manual coffee grinder with a durable stainless steel construction. The brushed metal finish gives it an attractive, minimalist look that feels sturdy and well-made.

The main burr chamber and handle are made from food-grade 304 stainless steel for longevity and rust resistance. The metal feels solid and substantial in hand. The plastic grounds catcher is also sturdy and securely fits onto the bottom.

Overall, the materials used in the Chestnut C3 inspire confidence in its durability. The stainless steel parts should hold up well over time and regular use. While manual grinders do require maintenance, the build quality suggests this grinder can last for years with proper care.

For design, Timemore opted for a classic and functional look. The shape is cylindrical with a textured handle for grip. It's simple but elegant, lacking any unnecessary flair. Focused on performance, the Chestnut C3 has a precision feel and professional appearance.

The Timemore Chestnut C3 shows thoughtful design and quality construction. Everything from the choice of materials to the ergonomic handle demonstrates careful engineering. It's built to deliver consistent grinds day after day.

Compared to other high-end manual coffee grinders like the Comandante C40MK4VW, the Chestnut C3 is similarly well-crafted. It offers stainless steel parts and an elegant yet functional aesthetic. The Comandante does feature ceramic burrs instead of steel, but both are designed for precision and consistency. Either option would make an excellent addition for the passionate coffee connoisseur.

Grind Settings

The Timemore Chestnut C3 offers a wide range of grind size adjustability through its 38 precise grind settings. This allows you to grind from fine espresso to coarse French Press with ease.

The grind settings are controlled by a numbered ring under the grounds catcher. You simply rotate the ring to the desired number, with lower numbers for finer grinds and higher numbers for coarser grinds. There are clear markings from 1 to 38, making it easy to accurately select your desired grind size.

Adjusting between settings is smooth and effortless. The grind setting ring turns with a satisfying click as you rotate to each new number. You can make minor adjustments of just a few notches at a time, all the way to switching completely from espresso to French Press in one motion.

The extensive range of settings gives you incredible control over the grind. You can fine-tune for your specific coffee beans and brew method to extract the optimal flavor and body from your coffee. Whether you're brewing espresso, pour over, Aeropress, or another method, you'll find the perfect grind size on the Chestnut C3.

If you're looking for an alternative manual grinder with a wide range of grind settings, check out the GERYLOVE XRT-MCG. This grinder has over 200 grind settings, making it easy to dial in the ideal grind for any brew method. The XRT-MCG uses a stepped adjustment wheel with clear markings from 0 to 12, with each number representing over 15 micro settings. This gives you incredible precision and consistency in grinding.

The XRT-MCG has a durable zinc alloy body and uses high quality ceramic conical burrs for uniform grinding. Its heavy base provides stability while grinding. The handle is ergonomically designed for smooth and comfortable turning. Grounds collect neatly in a glass grounds catcher with a silicone base.

With its extensive grind range, durable build, and precise adjustability, the GERYLOVE XRT-MCG is an excellent choice for coffee enthusiasts looking to get the most control over their manual grinding. It's easy to adjust from fine to coarse grinds in just seconds. Pair it with the Timemore Chestnut C3 for a manual grinding duo that can handle all your brewing needs.

Grinding Performance

The Timemore Chestnut C3 delivers excellent grinding performance that punches above its price point. Its conical ceramic burrs churn through beans quickly, taking only around 30 seconds to grind enough for a single espresso shot. The grind speed is impressively fast compared to many other manual grinders.

More importantly, the C3 produces very consistent grinds. The particle size distribution is even, without many fines or boulders. This consistency allows you to dial in a precise grind size for espresso or any other brew method. The C3 can grind fine enough for espresso with stepped adjustment from 0.625mm up to 1.5mm. While stepless adjustment would be ideal, the 30 steps on the C3 give sufficient control over grind size.

The burrs remain sharp for long-lasting grinding ability. Hardened steel conical burrs would likely last longer, but the ceramic burrs hold up better than you'd expect. For the price, getting consistent, fast grinding with an ability to go fine enough for espresso is hard to beat with the C3.

Ease of Use

The Timemore Chestnut C3 is designed for simplicity and ease of use. Loading the beans into the hopper is straightforward - just pour them in and you're ready to grind. The hopper holds enough beans for several cups of coffee, so you won't need to refill it too often.

Cleaning and maintenance are also simple on the Chestnut C3. The grounds catch cup and hopper come off easily for cleaning. The burrs can also be removed if needed for more thorough cleaning. There aren't too many nooks and crannies for grounds to get stuck in. Overall, daily cleaning takes just a minute or two. The Chestnut C3 produces minimal fines and clumping, so grounds don't stick to the burrs much.

Periodic maintenance involves oiling the burrs to keep them sharp and replacing them when worn. But the steel burrs are durable and should last home users quite a long time before needing replacement. The C3 doesn't require much disassembly or complicated maintenance procedures.

Noise Level

The Timemore Chestnut C3 produces a moderate noise level during grinding. The stainless steel burrs combined with the grinding mechanism generate sound around 70-75 decibels according to most user reviews. This volume is relatively average for a manual coffee grinder. It's noticeable but won't disturb others too much if used in an open concept kitchen or living space. The noise is comparable to a typical food processor or blender. The grinding sound may seem loud at first but is easy to get used to over time. Some users note the noise is more high-pitched than other grinders but not piercing. Overall, the noise level shouldn't be a deal breaker for most buyers. Those sensitive to sound while grinding coffee may want to consider an electric burr grinder or hand grinder with ceramic burrs instead. But the Chestnut C3 offers a reasonable noise profile given its grinding power and performance.

Portability

The Timemore Chestnut C3 is highly portable for a manual coffee grinder, making it a great option for travel. It weighs just 0.55kg and measures 15.5 x 7.5 x 13.5cm, so it can easily fit into a bag or suitcase without taking up much space.

Despite its small size, the Chestnut C3 has a generous 40g bean capacity, allowing you to grind enough coffee for several cups at once. This is ideal when you want to make coffee for a small group while traveling. The detachable hand crank is compact and the grounds catcher securely screws onto the bottom. So all the parts lock together into one neat package for tossing in your luggage.

The smooth walnut wood and stainless steel finish give the grinder a sleek, low-profile look. So you won't feel self-conscious about pulling it out to grind coffee in public places like a hotel lobby or campsite. Overall, the thoughtful design and smart size make the Timemore Chestnut C3 one of the most portable manual coffee grinders available today. It's perfect for avid coffee drinkers who want great tasting freshly ground coffee no matter where they are.

Capacity

The Timemore Chestnut C3 has a good capacity for a manual coffee grinder. The hopper holds around 20-25g of coffee beans, which is enough to make 2-3 cups of coffee in one grinding session. This is a decent amount for personal or couple use.

In terms of grind amount per use, the C3 can grind approximately 12-15g of coffee beans fairly easily and quickly in one go. Grinding more than 15g starts to become more difficult and time consuming. Overall the capacity is quite standard and suitable for most people's daily coffee needs. You won't be able to grind huge amounts at once, but there's enough space to make coffee for a few people without needing to refill the hopper multiple times.

Price and Value

The Timemore Chestnut C3 retails for around £79. This puts it at the higher end of the manual burr grinder market, but still well below many mid-range electric grinders. Compared to other high-quality manual grinders like the 1Zpresso JX Pro (£159) or Comandante C40 (£249), the Chestnut C3 is very competitively priced.

For the quality you get, the Chestnut C3 represents excellent value. The build quality and grind consistency rival grinders costing twice as much. While it doesn't have the ultra-high end performance and exotic materials of grinders like the Comandante C40, it gets extremely close for a fraction of the cost.

The Chestnut C3 punches well above its weight class. For home brewing enthusiasts on a budget, it delivers commercial-level grind quality at a very reasonable price point. The grind settings allow you to brew any coffee style from espresso to French press with ease. Considering you won't need to upgrade for many years, the Chestnut C3 is absolutely worth the investment if you're looking for a high-performing manual coffee grinder.

Conclusion

The Timemore Chestnut C3 is an excellent option for anyone looking for a high-quality manual coffee grinder. It offers many features you would expect to find in more expensive electric grinders.

Some of the key pros of the C3 are its:

• Sleek and durable stainless steel design
• Wide range of grind settings for various brew methods
• Very consistent grinds for optimal extraction
• Easy to adjust grind setting
• Smooth grinding operation
• Portable and compact size

In terms of downsides, the Chestnut C3:

• Can only grind small batches at a time compared to electric grinders
• Requires physical effort to operate
• More expensive than basic manual options

Overall, the Timemore C3 punches well above its price point and outperforms many electric grinders costing much more. If you don't mind putting in some extra elbow grease for an amazing cup of coffee, the C3 is easily one of the best manual coffee grinders available today. It's a worthwhile investment for coffee enthusiasts who want maximum control over grind size.